It's certainly not easy being someone you're not, but even more difficult -- as the story of Joseph illustrates -- is remaining true to yourself. This week's Torah portion opens with the dream of Pharaoh and the Hebrew slave whose interpretation wins over the Egyptian ruler and raises him up to the pinnacles of power. When famine strikes the land,...
The natural world at this time of year grows dark, cold and bare. Some find this to be a time for reflection, while others feel weighed down by the increasing darkness. These dueling impulses are played out in the themes of the Joseph cycle, which begins in this week's portion, Vayeshev. The tension between dark and light is enacted at...
It's never easy being someone you're not. But is it evil? Beginning with the forced sale of Esau's birthright to Jacob, progressing through Jacob's stealing of Esau's blessing, and ending with Esau's marriage to one of Ishmael's descendants, this week's Torah portion is a study in deception. Even a cursory reading would indicate that half-truths may be justified in some...
One of Webster's definitions of grace is "unmerited divine assistance given man for his regeneration." We often think of grace as a Christian concept, but Judaism also has a concept of undeserved lovingkindness from God. This is the Hebrew concept of hesed.
Sivan 11, 5773
